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6Apr2017

Physics graduate Lewis wins national science outreach competition

Lewis Wright, Postgraduate Researcher at the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) and Loughborough Physics graduate, has won an online outreach competition for scientists, where school students are the judges.

“I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here!” is an X-Factor style competition in which scientists across different disciplines engage with students over a two-week period, answering their questions via text-based chats on a public profile. The students then vote for their favourites, and the winning scientist gets £500 to spend on science communication.

Lewis participated in the ‘Francium Zone’, where he beat four other scientists to the top spot.

The initiative aims to provide an exciting way for scientists to develop their communications skills, gain a fresh perspective on their work, find out what young people think about science, and raise awareness of science careers.

Discussing his win, Lewis said: “Whilst I'm happy to have won, I’m sad that it is over. The chance to think about familiar things from a completely new perspective, as well as things that had simply never occurred to me has been invaluable.

“I’d like to thank everybody who voted for me, but also the other scientists in my zone – reading their top-class answers showed me the stiff competition I had and it spurred me on!

“As for the prize money, I am planning to commission a video from my favourite YouTube channel Kurzgesagt about how solar panels work, and how we need all forms of renewables to meet our future energy needs.”

Lewis studied Physics at Loughborough University, graduating in 2015. The School of Science congratulates him on his success in this year's "I'm a Scientist, Get me out of here!"